Heat pipe mass optimization for space applications

Heat dissipation at small scale from the devices having smaller surface area is one of the challenging and most researched areas in the field of heat transfer. The use of electronic devices is not only getting more and more popular but also the size of the gadgets is getting smaller. This makes the dissipation of heat from smaller surface areas more challenging than ever. Heat pipes are one such means to transfer heat in electronic and space applications due to its ability to transfer heat over low temperature difference and to work in zero gravity. Mass optimization of heat becomes of prime importance in these mass and space constrained applications. However, optimization is challenged by the constraints that have to be taken into consideration while designing heat pipe. The present study has intended show the suitability of evolutionary technique of Ant Colony Optimization (ACO) in constrained problems by optimizing the mass of heat pipe used in satellite application while managing the constraints applicable to its operation and design.